You can run voice dictation entirely on your Mac with zero internet, zero API keys, and zero data leaving your device. Parrot's local mode handles transcription and AI cleanup completely on-device. Setup takes under 5 minutes through a built-in wizard, and once the models (~4 GB) are downloaded, it works fully offline.
This guide walks through what local mode does, how to get it running, and how to tune it for the best results.
What "local" actually means
When you run Parrot in local mode, two things happen on-device:
- Transcription — your voice is converted to text using a speech-to-text engine that runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. On Apple Silicon it uses Metal acceleration for near-real-time performance.
- Cleanup — an on-device AI engine fixes grammar, removes filler words, and applies your writing style — all without an internet connection.
No audio leaves your machine. No text is sent anywhere. After the initial model download, you don't even need an internet connection.
Step 1: Install Parrot
Download Parrot for Mac to get started. On first launch, it'll ask for microphone permission — that's the only system permission it needs.
If macOS shows a "cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified" warning, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway.
Step 2: Run the setup wizard
When you first open Parrot, the onboarding wizard walks you through local mode setup. It checks your system, requests the macOS permissions it needs, and downloads the dictation and cleanup engines for you. No Terminal, no package managers, no manual model downloads.
You'll pick a quality tier for each engine — Lite, Standard, or Precise for dictation; Standard, Technical, or Code for cleanup. Standard is the recommended default and works well on most Macs.
Step 3: Start dictating
Press fn (or your custom hotkey) to start recording. Press it again to stop. Your transcription appears where your cursor is — no copy-paste needed.
The first transcription may take a few extra seconds while the engines warm up. Subsequent transcriptions will be faster.
Step 4: Customize your setup
Once basic dictation is working, head to Parrot's settings to tune your experience:
- Custom vocabulary — add names, technical terms, and jargon so Parrot recognises them correctly. See our guide on custom vocabulary.
- Writing context — tell the cleanup engine what kind of text you typically dictate (emails, code comments, medical notes) so it formats output appropriately.
- Hotkey — change the default fn key to any key combination that fits your workflow.
Performance expectations
Local transcription is slightly slower than cloud APIs. Here's what to expect by hardware:
- Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3/M4) — about 1–2 seconds of processing per 10 seconds of audio at the Standard tier. Metal GPU acceleration makes this feel near-instant for short dictations.
- Intel Macs — roughly 2–4× slower than Apple Silicon. Consider using the Lite or Standard dictation tier for faster results.
- RAM — the Standard dictation tier needs about 2–3 GB of RAM. With cleanup running too, aim for at least 16 GB total system memory.
Accuracy at the Standard tier is very good for everyday dictation. Adding custom vocabulary helps significantly with proper nouns and jargon.
Troubleshooting
- Setup wizard stuck on download — check your internet connection. Models are downloaded once during setup; after that, everything runs offline.
- Slow transcription — switch to the Lite dictation tier in settings. Close memory-heavy apps to free up RAM.
- Poor accuracy — switch to the Precise dictation tier, or add frequently misheard words to your custom vocabulary in Parrot's settings.
- Microphone not working — check System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and ensure Parrot has permission.
- Hotkey not pasting text — make sure Parrot has Accessibility permission under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.
Why go local?
Three reasons people choose local mode:
- Privacy — nothing leaves your Mac. Important for medical professionals, lawyers, and anyone handling sensitive information.
- No API key required — no external accounts, no setup beyond the wizard.
- Offline — works on planes, in areas with bad connectivity, or if you just don't want to depend on the internet.
What about cloud transcription?
Local mode is what Parrot ships with today, and it's free for life. A managed cloud mode is in development for users who want the absolute fastest transcription or are on older Intel Macs where local processing is slow. When it lands, you'll be able to switch between local and cloud anytime in settings — your vocabulary, history, and preferences carry over.
If you're curious about how the major transcription APIs compare, see our comparison of transcription APIs.